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Soaking wet attempted murder suspect arrested

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office helicopter hovers near U.S. 231 in the Hiland Park area Monday morning. Authorities captured north Florida murder suspect Stonie Shane Norris in a wooded area off U.S. 231.

Published: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 05:51 PM.

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PANAMA CITY — A man suspected of home invasion and attempted murder didn’t spend much time in Bay County before his presence was known to investigators.

In fact, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office believes Stonie Shane Norris was spotted within minutes of his arrival.

Norris, 37, was arrested early Monday after an overnight manhunt involving about 25 Bay County Sheriff’s office deputies and officers from the Lynn Haven Police Department, as well as the BCSO air unit. Though he eluded law enforcement overnight, police were on his trail almost immediately after he arrived in Bay County, BCSO spokeswoman Ruth Corley said.

“We received information Sunday … and began searching at that point. I don’t know how long he was here,” Corley said. “We believe that we were able to spot him within minutes.”

Deputies in Putnam County, south of Jacksonville, had been searching for Norris since two people were beaten in a home invasion robbery there early Friday. Authorities said he likely would be armed.

Attempts to reach Putnam County authorities were unsuccessful Monday evening. A news release from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office gave few details about the crime there, but Corley said Norris is suspected of beating two people during a home invasion robbery early Nov. 22.

Deputies were alerted to Norris’ arrival in Bay County on Sunday and looked for him at a Lynn Haven home. A deputy spotted Norris in the area, but Norris got away. A gun was recovered in a stolen truck Norris was believed to have driven.

PANAMA CITY — A man suspected of home invasion and attempted murder didn’t spend much time in Bay County before his presence was known to investigators.

In fact, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office believes Stonie Shane Norris was spotted within minutes of his arrival.

Norris, 37, was arrested early Monday after an overnight manhunt involving about 25 Bay County Sheriff’s office deputies and officers from the Lynn Haven Police Department, as well as the BCSO air unit. Though he eluded law enforcement overnight, police were on his trail almost immediately after he arrived in Bay County, BCSO spokeswoman Ruth Corley said.

“We received information Sunday … and began searching at that point. I don’t know how long he was here,” Corley said. “We believe that we were able to spot him within minutes.”

Deputies in Putnam County, south of Jacksonville, had been searching for Norris since two people were beaten in a home invasion robbery there early Friday. Authorities said he likely would be armed.

Attempts to reach Putnam County authorities were unsuccessful Monday evening. A news release from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office gave few details about the crime there, but Corley said Norris is suspected of beating two people during a home invasion robbery early Nov. 22.

Deputies were alerted to Norris’ arrival in Bay County on Sunday and looked for him at a Lynn Haven home. A deputy spotted Norris in the area, but Norris got away. A gun was recovered in a stolen truck Norris was believed to have driven.

The search continued overnight until a citizen reported seeing Norris in a creek bed in the 3900 block of U.S. 231 and Evergreen Cemetery. He was apprehended around 9 a.m. Monday in a nearby wooded area.

Norris didn’t put up a fight, Corley said.

“He went quietly,” she said. “He was soaking wet. He was lying under some pine straw. … I imagine he was pretty miserable.”

Corley said Norris had a relative and a friend in the Lynn Haven area. It’s not clear if he intended to stay in the area or pass through.

He was booked into the Bay County Jail to wait for a ride back to Putnam County.

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